An Annual Return is a snapshot of your company information and it is very different and separate to the Annual Financial Accounts. An Annual Return must be completed by all companies registered with Companies House and it is a legal requirement for this return to be submitted to Companies House within 28 days of the “made-up date”. The made-up date refers to the date on which the information on the Annual Return must be correct. In plain English the first Annual Return is due within 28 days of the anniversary of incorporation and very year after.

The Annual Return will always contain the following information:

  • the name of the company;

  • registered company number;

  • the type of company, for example, private or public;

  • the registered office address of the company;

  • the address where the company keeps certain company registers if not at the registered office;

  • the principal business activities of the company;

  • the name and address of the company secretary, where applicable;

  • the name, usual residential address, date of birth, nationality and business occupation of all the company's directors;

  • the date to which the annual return is made-up (the made-up date).

If the company has share capital the following additional information must be supplied:

  • Information about the issued share capital; and

  • Details of the shareholders.

Further details on how to obtain your annual return for completion can be found on the Companies House website http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/about/gbhtml/gba2.shtml